Game Shows: Some Questions Aren't So Trivial

Sermon written by Pastor Larry C. Brincefield; preached on 7/11/04

Title: Game Shows: Some Questions aren’t so trivial

Text: Mark 10:35-39a; Mark 8:37

Introduction

1. I used to love to watch game shows (back when I watched more tv).

• Jeopardy

• Wheel of Fortune

• Hollywood Squares

• Who wants to be a Millionaire?

• These shows all involve answering trivia questions…for the most part…

• Although in Wheel of fortune, you are guessing letters…

• And in Jeopardy, you are given the answer, and you’ve got to come up with the question.

2. In fact, I have several games in my collection that are “trivia question” games…

• Trivial pursuit…

• And so on.

• I’d be interested how much money has been spent in the pursuit of trivia!

3. Here are some questions from some of the books and games in my collection, raise your hand if you want to take a stab at the answer.

• According to a 1973 Poll, who was the most hated and feared person in history? (1. Richard Nixon, 2. Adolf Hitler, 3. Jack the Ripper)

• According to a 1974 Poll, who was the most hated and feared person in history? (1. Hitler, 2. Harold Wilson, 3. Richard Nixon)

• What are the 3 primary colors (red, yellow, blue)

• What are the 3 secondary colors (orange, green, purple)

• A group of lions is called a “pride”, a group of bees is called a “colony”; what is a group of whales called? (pod) Elephants (herd); dolphins (school); Kangaroos (mob); wolves (pack); crows (murder).

• From 1980 to 1990, which state had the highest percentage increase in population? A. Alaska, B. Florida, C. California (Alaska, 42%, Florida was 4th with 32%)

• What is the 6th Commandment? (Thou shalt not kill)

• What is the longest book in the Bible? (Psalms)

• What is the shorted book in the Bible? (2 John—only 13 verses, 298 words)

• What is the shortest verse in the Bible? (Jesus wept. John 11:35)

• What kind of wood did Noah use to build the ark? (Gopher)

• What is my middle name? (Carter)

4. Trivia is fun…but when you get right down to it…

• Trivia questions are just that…Trivial…

• Trivia, according to the dictionary, means: unimportant, or insignificant.

5. This morning, I want us to look at some questions that Jesus asks…

• And let me quickly point out that they aren’t trivial at all…

• They are of utmost importance.

Read Text: Mark 10:35-39a; Mark 8:37

Body

1. What Do You Want?

A. One day, 2 of Jesus’ disciples came to Him…

• James and John…they were ambitious…

• They were hungry for fame and power…

• And they were selfish…

• They came up to Jesus and said, “we want you do for us whatever we ask”

• Pretty arrogant statement…

• Kids will try to do the same thing…

• They will come up to their parents and ask, “I want to ask you a question, will you say yes?”

• And Jesus basically asks the same thing most parents today would ask, “well, what do you want”…”What’s your question”?

B. When Jesus asked them “What do you want”?

• That’s when their true nature came out…

• They said, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory” Mark 10:37 (NIV)

C. This morning, Jesus is here…in the Presence of His Holy Spirit…

• And He wants to ask you some questions…

• And these aren’t trivial questions…

• Like, “What’s the capital of Oregon”? (Salem)

• Or “What are the 5 great lakes?” (huron, Ontario, Michigan, erie, Superior)

• It’s okay if you don’t know the answer to those questions...

• You can probably get by all your life and never know those things…

• But this question that Jesus asks is of utmost importance?

• What do you want?

• What do you REALLY want?

• What do you desire more than anything else in the world?

• You need to answer Jesus’ question…

• James and John answered that question…

• They said, “we want to sit at a place of honor by Your side…”

• “We want to be famous…honored…we want to be treated special”

• “me…me…me…I…I…I.”

• Well, at least they answered truthfully…

• I encourage you to do the same…

• What do you really want?

• What is really important to you?

• Answer truthfully.

2. What Can a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul?

A. In Mark 8:37, Jesus asks another question: “What can a person give in exchange for his/her soul?”

• Can a person be bought?

• Does every person have their price?

• We must answer these questions, because it goes to the fundamental basis of our integrity and character.